Method of reducing metallic compounds.



F. J. TONE. METHOD OF REDUCING METALLIC COMPOUNDS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1.9 08.

7 937,120, Patented Oct. 19. 1909..

WITNESSES lNVEN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F ANK J.' TONE, or NIAGARA. rants; NEW YORK. METHOD or REDUCING METALLIC coivironnns.

937.120. sp fi bf Letters t nt. ram-um on. is). 1 coo.

Application filed June 24 H'o'all whom it may concern:

.Be'it ltnown that T; FRANK J. TONE, of Niagara'Falls, Niagara county, New York,

have invented a new and useful Method of Reducing Metallic Compounds, of which the 5 following is a full, clear. and exact descrip two, reference beinghad'to. the accompany mg drawings, forming part of this specification, in which the figure is. a sectional side elevatlon showmg one form of an electric considerable loss of the metal or product.

. My invention provides an improved method by which the charge is'more etfectually supported and the products of reaction separated therefrom while taking the prod ucts out of the reduction zone or are region.

To that end the intention consists in supporting a charge of the compound and a re ducing agent in an electric furnace on a supporting hearth which is pervious to the products of reaction. with a collecting space or receptacle beneath this hearth, the hearth being substantially impervious to the charge.

An electric arc is thus established Within the charge of suflieient intensity-to reduce the compound, and the fused product is removed from the reduction'zoue and allowed to pass through the hearth to a receiving space below.

My process is especially applicable to the reduction of silicon compounds, and the .manufacture therefrom of silicon, silicon alloys and silicon products. In the reduction of such ores, it is especially important: to remove the product of reduction from the highly heated reduction zone as soon as pos sible after it is formed and the herein do.- scribed construction of the hearth fully ac- In'the drawings, in which I have shown one form of furnace carrying out my invention, '2 represents the base of the furnace which 18 shown as constituting one terminal.

, 1908. Serial No. 440.124.

] This is preferably composed of carbon or other conducting refractory material and is l-prcferably hollowed out to form a receiving pace 5. for the molten products of the furnace. Side walls 4 of the furnacc'propcr are l prcfcrably of non-conducting refractory ma- 1 terial.

.1 is the upper electrode which depends within the furnace and constitutes the other i terminal, this preferably being of carbon.

(l is the lower electrode which rests upon the central part of the carbon base, the arc tween the upper and lower electrodes.

,The charge rests upon a hearth 8 which extends over the collecting receptacle within the terminal 2 and in the form shown is composedbf horizontally extending carbon bars which are suitably supported in or on the side walls. a'proper distance to allow the molten products to drop between the hearth so formed, while this hearth supports the charge and is practically impervious thereto. The charge is indicated at 0 and preferably fills the space around the upper electrode. The intermediate hearth is placed between the reduction zone of the are and the receiving above the base to give a receptacle of the desired size. From this receptacle the product may be tappedout through the taphole 10. In the operation of the furnace, the charge is supported upon the hearth through which the products drop from the reduction zone into the receiving space. The products are thus not liable to be contaminated by the charge which is kept apart by the hearth which supports it. The products are removed from the reduction zone and the vicinity of the arc, and descend by gravity'through the hearth into the collecting space, whence they are tapped as do sired. g The shape and form of the supporting hearth, and the size of its perforations may be varied without departing from my invention.

I claim A process of reducing metallic com pounds which are'subject to volatilizat-ion losses at the temperature of reduction, which consists in supporting a charge of the, compound and a. reducing agent on a. hearth being maintained through the region '7 be- These bars are spaced apart.

space atthe base, and is sufiiciently clevatet l' which is impervious to said charge, but pervious to the products of reduction, establishing within the charge an electric arc of sufficient intensity to reduce the compound, maintaining the temperature of the charge between the hearth and the reduction zone below the volatilization temperature of the metal, removing the fused product from the reduction zone, and allowing it to pass through the hearth to a receiving space below.

2. The process of reducing silicon compounds, which consists in supporting a charge, including silicious material and a reducing agent, on a hearth which is impervious to said charge, but pervious to the products of reduction, establishing within the charge an electric arc of sufficient intensity to reduce the silicon, maintaining the temperature of the charge between the hearth and the reduction zone below the volatilization temperature of the silicon, and removing the fused productfrom the reduc-.

tion zone and allowing itto pass through the hearth to a receiving space below.

3. The process of reducing silicon compounds, which consists in supporting a charge, including silicious material and a reducing agent, on a hearth which is impervious to said charge, but pervious to the products of reduction, establishing within the charge an electric arc of suflicient intensity to reduce the silicon, maintaining the temperature of the charge between the hearth and the reduction zone below the volatilization temperature of silicon, removing the fused product from the reduction zone, allowing it to pass through the hearth to a receiving space, and maintaining it therein in a fused condition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK J. TONE. Witnesses ASHMEAD J. Roncnns, FRED I. PIERCE. 

